Code translator



Feb. 13, 1945. H. P. LUHN 7 CODE TRANSLATOR Filed Dec. 10, 1945 n III! :filllllllll N llllll INVEN TOR. f/AA/J A ZZ/H/V A TTORNEY Patented Feb. 13, 1945 CODE TBANSLATOB.

Hans P. Lulm, Armonk, N. Y., assignor to International Business Mac hines Corporation, New

York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 10, 1943, Serial No. 513,817

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a code translator, and more particularly to a translator for translating the representation of a character expressed in one system of coding to an expression in a different system of coding.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide an all electric code translator, in which characters expressed in a six position system by combinations of one to four positions may be translated into a seven position system in which the characters are expressed by different combinations of one to live positions.

A more specific object is to provide a translator in which a number of relay magnets, one for each of the code positions of a given system, are energized in selected combinations to adjust related sets of contacts. These contacts are wired to form a number of chain relay circuits, equal in number to the greatest number of code positions concurrently employed in a second system, so that separate parallel circuits will be completed to represent a character in the second system.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which discloses, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

The drawing represents the electric wiring of a translator in which combinations in a six position code are translated into other combinations in a seven position code.

The six position code in which characters are represented by combinations of 1, 2, 3 or 4 positions is known as the Radiotype code and the seven position code into which the characters are to be translated into combinations of 1, 2, 3, '4 or 5 positions is known as the "Teletype code. The combinations of the several characters are set forth in the table below, where under code A" are the combinations for the initial code and under "code B are the combinations for the resultant code.

Code A, positions Code B, positions Character 1 2 3 4 5 6 l 2 3 4 5 F L A G l 2 L .B- l L C- 2 L D l L E. l L FL. .1 L G. L H. L I... L 1.. L K L L L M L N. L 0. L i

Q. R L S L 'I 5 L U... L V. 5 L W 5 L X. 5 L Y. 5 L Z 5 L l. 5 F 2.- 5 F 3.- F 4. F 5 w 5 F 6.. A 5 F 7.-. l 4 F 8.- l 2 3 4 F 9.. l 2 3 4 5 F 0.- l 2 .H 4 5 3 5 F 3 4 5 F C l. 2 5 4 L 2 4 5 3 4 6 F 2 3 6 3 4 F 2 4 5 6 2 3 4 F 2 4 6 l 4 5 F Referring to the drawing, six magnets ID are provided which may be energized combinationally in accordance with the coding of the table designated code A, and'the specific manner in which they are energized is not shown. Each magnet is provided with multiple armatures shown arranged in horizontal alignment therewith and numbered consecutively from left to right. Thus, the 1 magnet III has nineteen armatures, the 2 magnet II has thirty armatures, the 3 magnet ll has twenty-nine armatures, the 4 magnet it has nineteen armatures, the 5 magnet it has ten armatures, and the 6 magnet W has five armatures.

These armatures are provided with resting and operating contacts grouped in five sections designated A, B, C, D and E with each such group forming a separate relay or contact chain extending from negative line 82 to a group of seven wires 54 designated 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, F, and L. These wires are connected separately to similarly designated magnets it, which are also connected to positive line 18.

These magnets it when energized may operate punching, printing or other indicating or recording devices which are not per se part of the resent invention and are, therefore, not illustrated. With the several sets of armatures interconnected as shown, a combinational energization of magnets H3, in accordance with the character in code A, will adjust the related armatures so that a number of parallel circuits are completed through the sections A to E, the number of circuits being equal to the number of positions of the character in the code B with each circuit going through a different section to energize the magnets H5 in accordance with the latter code.

To illustrate this, let it be assumed that magnets ID are energized to represent the letter K which from code A means that the 1, 4 and 5 magnets iii are energized and their related armatures are rocked to the left. There will then be five circuit paths completed, which are emphasized in heavy full lines, one extending through each of the sections, to energize the 1, 2, 3, 4 and L magnets l6. Tracing these circuits specifically, they are as follows:

In section A-from negative line I2, armature l of 6 magnet In (normal) armature 2 of 5 magnet 10 (shifted); armature 2 of 4 magnet l (shifted); armature 3 of 3 magnet i0 (normal); armature l of 2 magnet l0 (normal) to the 4 wire ll, 4 magnet l6 and to positive line l8.

In section B-from negative line 12, armature 2 of 6 magnet l0 (normal) armature 4 of magnet in (shifted) armature 6 of 4 magnet l0 (shifted) to the 2 wire l4, 2 magnet is and to positive line l8.

In section C-from negative line l2, armature 3 of 6 magnet In (normal) armature 6 of 5 magnet in (shifted); armature ll) of 4 magnet Ill (shifted); armature I6 of 3 magnet (normal), to the 3 wire l4, 3 magnet I6 and to positive line 18.

In section Dfrom negative line !2, armature 4 of 6 magnet l0 (normal); armature 8 of 5 magnet l0 (shifted); armature M of 4 magnet l0 (shifted); armature 23 of 3 magnet in (normal) armature 26 of 2 magnet l0 (normal); armature I6 of l magnet l0 (shifted), to the 1 wire l4, 1

, magnet 16 and to positive line l8.

In section E-from negative line l2, armature 5 of 6 magnet ll) (normal); armature H) of 5 (shifted) armature 25 of 3 magnet l0 (normal) armature 21 of 2 magnet l0 (normal), to the L wire I, L magnet i6 and to positive line l8.

As a further example, consider the numeral 7 which in code A is represented as 1, 4, 5 and 6 and in code 13 as 1, 2, 3 and F. With magnets l0 appropriately energized, circuits are traceable through sections A, B, C and E as emphasized in heavy dotted lines to energize the 1, 2, 3 and F magnets IS. The paths of these circuits are beaeeawe iii - magnet l0 (shifted); armature l8 of 4 magnet 10 lieved to be quite evident from the drawing, so they are not specifically traced herein.

For each of the other characters in code A, there will also be a relative adjustment of the armatures and resultant circuits through two or more sections to energize the magnets it in accordance with code B. It is to be particularly noted that the number of relay chains is equal to the greatest number (5) of positions in code B that are used together, and that if code 13 was arranged, for example, with no more than three positions utilized in combination, only three relay chains would be required.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single modification, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention therefore to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A code translator for translating representations of characters expressed in a first combinational code to representations of the characters expressed in a second combinational code, comprising a set of magnets, one for each position of the first code, a set of multiple armatures for each magnet provided with resting and operating contacts, said armatures and contacts being electrically interconnected to form a number of independent circuit chains equal in number to the greatest number of positions employed to represent a character in the second code, a second set of magnets, one for each position of the second code, energization of the magnets of the first set, in accordance with a character of the first code causing completion of a number of circuit paths, each through a different circuit chain, to energize the second set of magnets in accordance with the combination of said character in the second code.

2. A code translator for translating representations of characters expressed in a first combinational code to.representations of the characters expressed in a second combinational code, comprising a set of magnets, one for each position of the first code, contacts adjustable by said magnets, said contacts being electrically interconnected to .form a number of independent circuit chains equal in number to the greatest number of positions employedto represent a character in the second code, a set of current responsive devices, one for each position of the second code, said circuit chains being effective upon energization of said set of magnets in accordance with a character representation in the first code for operating said current responsive devices in accordance with the representation of the same character in the second code.

3. A code translator for translating representations of characters expressed in a first combinational code to representations of the characters expressed in a second combinational code, comprising sets of settable arms, one set for each position of the first code, contacts adjustable by said arms, a set of current responsive devices, one for each position of the second code, a circuit network interconnecting said contacts and said current responsive devices to form a number of independent circuit chains equal in number to the greatest number of positions employed to represent a character in the second code, and eflective upon setting of said arms combinationally in accordance with a character of the first code for operating the current responsive devices in accordance with the representation of the same character in the second code.

4. A code translator for translatin representations of characters expressed in a first combinational code to representations of the characters expressed in a second combinational code, comprising a set of magnets, one for each position of the first code, a set of multiple armatures for each magnet provided with resting and operating contacts, said armatures and contacts being electrlcally interconnected to form a number of independent parallel circuit chains equal in number to the greatest number of positions employed to represent a character in the second code, a second set of magnets, one for each position of the second code, energization of the magnets of the first set, in accordance with a character of the first code, causing concurrent completion of a number of circuitpaths, each through a difirent circuit chain, to energize the second set of magnets in accordance with the combination of said character in the second code.

HANS P. LUHN. 

